Couverture / Jaquette

"The Happy Hypocrite: A Fairy Tale for Tired Men" by Sir Max Beerbohm is a masterpiece of English literature, blending satire and irony to dissect Victorian society's moral hypocrisy. Through clever characterization and literary humor, Beerbohm delivers a scathing social commentary on the duality of human nature. The protagonist, Lord George Hell, embodies the paradox of morality and vanity, leading a double life that exposes the facade of high society. With sharp wit and biting parody, Beerbohm navigates themes of morality and vanity, revealing the underlying tensions between appearance and reality. His exploration of duality reflects the complex nature of human behavior, challenging readers to confront their own hypocrisy. Through the lens of social criticism, Beerbohm unveils the flaws of Victorian society, highlighting its obsession with outward propriety while masking inner corruption. The novel serves as both a critique of its time and a timeless reflection on the human condition. As a work of literary criticism, "The Happy Hypocrite" stands as a testament to Beerbohm's mastery of the English language and his keen insight into the foibles of society. It remains a classic example of satire in English literature, offering a mirror to society's moral ambiguities.

Note biographique

Sir Henry Maximilian Beerbohm (August 24, 1872 - May 20, 1956) was an English essayist, parodist, and caricaturist known as Max. He rose to prominence in the 1890s as a dandy and comic. He was the Saturday Review's drama critic from 1898 to 1910, when he moved to Rapallo, Italy. In his senior years, he gained popularity for his occasional radio appearances. Zuleika Dobson, his only novel, was released in 1911 and is among his most well-known works. Many public collections feature his caricatures, which are often created in pen or pencil with muted watercolor tinting. Henry Maximilian Beerbohm (1811-1892) was the youngest of nine children born to Julius Ewald Edward Beerbohm, a Lithuanian-born grain dealer, at 57 Palace Gardens Terrace in London, which is now commemorated with a blue plaque. His mother was Eliza Draper Beerbohm, Julius' late first wife's sister. Beerbohm had four half-siblings, one of them, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, was an established theater actor when Max was a toddler. Other elder half-siblings were author and explorer Julius Beerbohm and author Constance Beerbohm.

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